LESSON 3.
CONVICTION, PERSUASION, PROPOSITION
(SOURCE: Salirickandres. (2016, November 29). Introduction to Argumentation and Debate.
https://salirickandres.altervista.org/introduction-argumentation-debate/)
INTRODUCTION
Argumentation and debate is a serious endeavor involving the extensive use of logical and critical thinking skills.
This requires you as a speaker or a participant to research and prepare a set of well thought arguments and counter-
arguments for possible opponent’s counter-arguments. This therefore entails that you should have an in-depth
understanding of the topic or resolution and the purpose of the two approaches in debate.
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
a. differentiate conviction from persuasion;
b. describe/recognize the characteristics of a good proposition;
c. distinguish the differences between the types of proposition; and
d. give an example of good proposition.
e.
PRE-ACTIVITY
In an argument, how do you gain the approval of the person you are arguing with? As a debater, how will you
gain the agreement or approval of your opponents and of your listeners?
CONTENT FOCUS AND INTERACTION
A. The 2 approaches in debate and argumentation are equally important for you to perform excellently in an
argumentation and debate. You may proceed after the other; but make sure that these two should go hand in
hand and not separated. These two approaches in argumentation and debate are:
1. Conviction
Appeal to reason.
The phase whereby the arguer directs his words to the reasoning faculty of man.
To create belief and intellectual agreement.
2. Persuasion
Appeal to emotion
The phase whereby the disputant directs his words to the heart, the sentiments and emotions.
To stir and influence the audience
If you concentrate on conviction alone, it would be:
What are you saying may just be merely a state of mind;
Not sufficient to promote human progress;
Contentions may be true but lacks depth and credibility or trustworthiness;
May not stir the audience to believe in your course of belief.
Conversely, if you concentrate on persuasion alone:
Your arguments may just be pure behavioral impulse;
May result to a “blind following” scheme;
Instinct may not always be accurate;
Emotional appeal is momentary or short lived and unreliable
B. The Subject of Argumentation: Proposition
Is it possible to argue or converse without a topic? Think about your latest argument or even verbal
wrangling with your friend or anyone, was there an issue that instigated the argument?
Debate propositions shape the whole direction and preparation for the debate itself. It is therefore
important for you as a student of DEBATE and as a debater to understand what a proposition is and the type
of proposition you are dealing with. Thus, this lesson presents a brief explanation or description of a good
proposition and its type.
A proposition is a statement that affirms or denies something or it is a statement in which anything
whatsoever is affirmed or denied. In formal debates, a proposition is also called a topic, motion, or resolution.
Criteria for Good Propositions
(SOURCE: Anon. (n.d.). Chapter 2 Basic Elements in Academic Debate. http://www.flc.kyushu-u.ac.jp/~inouen/new-c2.html).
When you set up a proposition for debate, you must take care in phrasing it so that you can maximize
educational benefits of academic debate. Here are some of the advices you will follow:
1. The proposition must be focused on one single idea.
A bad example may be: "Resolved, That Japan should abandon nuclear power plants and promote
solar power generation." The two actions in the proposition are not necessarily paired together in
discussing energy resources.
2. The proposition must be expressed in an affirmative sentence so that the affirmative and the negative
positions may not be confused.
3. The proposition must be controversial or debatable and provable.
4. The proposition must represent a change from the present system (or currently held belief). The idea is
that the affirmative side is a reformer/revolutionist in debate. It argues something is bad about the present
and should be changed. To counterbalance that burden, the affirmative side gives the first and the last
speeches in debate.
5. The proposition must be objectively worded.
Example of bad proposition: The proposition like "Resolved, That Japan should abolish
inhumane death penalty" is biased in favor of the affirmative side.
6. The proposition must be suitable for participants in terms of interest and difficulty.
7. It is expressed in a complete statement with a subject and a predicate.
Example:
The Filipino woman of yesterday was better than the Filipino woman of today.
The Filipino woman of yesterday – subject
was better than the Filipino woman of today – predicate
Capital punishment should be abolished.
City mayors should be elected by popular vote.
8. It allows an affirmance or a denial.
Debate propositions shape the entire direction and preparation for the debate itself, and so it is important
for you as a debater to understand what type of proposition you are dealing with.
Types of propositions
(SOURCE: Anon. (n.d.). educational research techniques. https://educationalresearchtechniques.com/2019/05/03/types-of-
debate-proposition/)
a. Proposition of Fact (Is/Is not). A debate that is defined as a proposition of fact is a debate that is
focused on whether something is true or not.
Example: Resolved: human activity is contributing to global warming.
Resolved: death is inevitable.
Resolved: obesity causes health problems.
Resolved: converting to solar energy can save homeowners money.
The affirmative side would argue that humans are contributing to global warming while the negative
side would argue that humans are not contributing to global warming. The main concern is the
truthfulness of the proposition. There is no focus on ethics of the proposition.
b. Proposition of Value (Good/Bad). A proposition of value looks at beliefs about what is right or
wrong and or good and bad. This type of proposition is focused on ethics and or aesthetics.
Example: Resolved: that television is a waste of time.
Resolved: same sex marriage is moral.
This type of proposition is trying to judge the acceptability of something and or make an ethical
claim.
Value propositions can also have other characteristics like instead of affirming the good or bad of a
proposition, a proposition of value can also make a case of one idea being better than another such
as:
Example: Resolved: That exercise is a better use of time than watching television.
Another variation on proposition of value is when the affirmative argues to reject a value such as
in the following.
Example: Resolved: That encouraging the watching of television is harmful to young
people.
The primary goal of the affirmative is to argue why television watching should not be valued or at
least valued less.
A quasi-policy value proposition is used to express a value judgement about a policy.
Example: Resolved: That mandatory vaccinations would be beneficial to school age
children.
The affirmative is not only judging vaccinations but simultaneously the potential policy of
making vaccinations mandatory.
c. Proposition of Policy (Should/should not). Propositions of policy call for change. This type of
proposition is pushing strongly against the status quo. In the case of a proposition of policy, the
affirmative supports the change while the negative supports the status quo.
Example: Resolved: That the school cafeteria should adopt a vegetarian diet.
The example above is using for clear change, there is no judgement on the current situation, there is
no judgement that the non-vegetarian diet is good or bad or that a vegetarian diet is good or bad.
